Blue Jackets hire 1st European as NHL GM

Howson, a 52-year-old Toronto native, was hired as executive vice president and general manager on June 15, 2007. He took the place of Doug MacLean, who had guided the franchise from its inception, through its first NHL season in 2000-01 and the next five campaigns.

He was in charge in 2008-09, when the Blue Jackets went a franchise-best 41-31-10 and made the playoffs with star forward Rick Nash and Calder Trophy-winning goalie Steve Mason leading the way.

But the club then fell on hard times and last season was an NHL-worst 29-46-7.

Midway through the season, Howson revealed that Nash, the team's captain, had asked to be traded. It took months before Nash was dealt along with a minor league defenseman and a conditional third-round pick to the New York Rangers for forwards Artem Anisimov and Brandon Dubinsky, 21-year-old defenseman Tim Erixon and a first-round pick.

The Blue Jackets won their opener this season at Nashville, and earned another point in their second game. But they lost eight of 10 games before Monday night's surprising 6-2 victory over San Jose - scoring as many goals in one night as they had in their three previous games combined.

"I'm anxious to get down to work and meet this new challenge," said Kekalainen, who lived in the U.S. for 13 years before his return to Finland.

He played 55 games in the NHL as a left wing over six seasons with the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins.